Well-being of the nation mapped

Analyzing Facebook and Twitter updates to gauge happiness is all the rage these days, but Gallup has been doing it old school for the past three years. Every day, Gallup has called 1,000 randomly selected American adults and asked them a series of questions about their well-being such as, “Did you experience feelings of happiness during a lot of the day yesterday?” and “Do you smoke?”

I find this map confusing at first because of the arrangement of the color scheme. Both high depression and high happiness are the darkest yellow-orange. It would be more logical if all the “negative” values (low happiness, high depression, etc.) were pale in color and the the “positive” values (high happiness, low depression, etc.) were boldly colored.

It’s very interesting material, but I don’t really like the sampling units they chose because of their varying size (reflecting population density, no doubt). I think an interpolated map generated from the actual locations of the respondents would have worked a little better.

I agree with not liking the color…
It got especially confusing for the question “Are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your job or the work you do?” What’s a 73% for that one?? At least if they had been consistent in colors being positive or negative I could make a better guess.

I like how it shows that the overall well-being index is not comprised of equal parts in all places, but may have a regional feel to it. This map makes North Dakota look like the place to be – albeit a little obese, light on fruits, vegetables and exercise. Still, I suspect that my east coast sensibility may feel out of place and “less well” overall if I moved to North Dakota. So is well being finding the right fit?

I like the color scheme this way – it’s easy to compare one to the next.